Masonic emblem now in pieces in Elgin

Being removed to be preserved, symbols break apart

A Masonic emblem that Elgin officials had wanted to preserve crumbled as the terra cotta symbols were removed from a historic building, officials said Monday.

In October the City Council reluctantly approved the removal of the symbols -- a square, a compass and the letter "G" -- which were considered offensive by the church that now owns the former Masonic Temple building at 310 E. Chicago St.

But city officials had said they hoped to preserve the symbols and return them to the building if it again changed hands.

That's still the plan, but the emblem is now in pieces.

"We tried to save as much as we can," said Sarosh Saher, Elgin's historic preservation specialist. "The two larger pieces, the compass and the square, are being held until someone wants to put them back together."

Betsy Cotoure, a member of the Elgin Heritage Commission, said she was disappointed with Family Life Church for seeking to remove the emblem and the city for allowing it.

"I didn't really think they would do it," Cotoure said. "It is too bad that a church that came here and wants to do good things destroys our beautiful building."

The 16- to 18-inch-thick symbols broke last week as they were being removed by a West Chicago contractor. Construction crews said the symbols showed signs of age and distress before they were removed.

But a cornerstone, which reads "Laid By the Masonic Fraternity June 9 A.D. 1923=A.L. 5923" and was also considered objectionable by the church, was removed without damage and will be preserved with the broken symbols inside the Elgin Area Historical Museum.

Attempts to reach Family Life officials were unsuccessful. Council members approved the church's request to remove the symbols after being advised by their attorney that they faced a possible lawsuit if they did not.

The Masonic Temple, in the Gifford Park neighborhood, was designated a local historic site in 1981 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Masons vacated the property in 1989.

"It is a sad situation, but no matter what, there is nothing we can do," said Edward Kenny Jr., master of Elgin Lodge 117 of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons. "It is their building. They may do whatever they want, but it is sad that what was a historic landmark is suddenly erased."

Crews also found a time capsule in a copper box under the cornerstone.

The box -- 8 inches wide, 12 inches long and 8 inches deep -- was turned over to the lodge.

Kenny said the time capsule could be opened later or stored in a safe-deposit box. At the time the capsule was preserved, the building was the largest of its kind in the Fox Valley and was home to two lodges.

Kenny said leaders will consult the other lodge, Monitor Lounsbury Lodge 522, which now meets in Barrington and also had placed items in the box.